Lubricating rubber O-rings

[KRS]

What type of lubricant will work on rubber o-rings and not deteriorate them?<br /><br />Thank you.

 

[jlshields]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

'O' rings usually are neoprene, not rubber, but if you would feel better, use the clear silicone grease.

 

[qaztwo]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Call me old fasion, but I use vasaline.

 

[jlshields]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Vaseline will work too, but if they do happen to be rubber, well, Vaseline is a petroleum product and it will destroy rubber.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Rubber grease, the type you use for brake hydraulic overhaul.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

When in doubt, I use a small dab of liquid dish soap and a small bit of water unless it is a component using a petro product.

 

[KRS]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Excellent info.<br /><br />One use is for my flashlight bezel, I washed out some sand and it needs re-lubed.<br /><br />The other is a food-safe use... a drink dispenser that needs the dispenser lubed.

 

[jlshields]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Food safe would be cooking oil, PAM spray, corn oil, most anything used in cooking.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

jlshields, cooking oil/grease will deteriorate rubber. I work in the commercial kitchen equipment field. The oils and grease will destroy rubber. BTDT many times. Even the power cords that are rated SOO (gas/oil resistant) will not hold up over time due to the food oil/grease. A food safe silicone would be best. <br /><br />The Orings in our beverage systems, we put in dry. That is what is recommended by Coke to us. They say that any lube on the orings can cause conatamination of the soft drink.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

It depends what use you are installing it on or in. As mentioned above, neoprene for use in conjunction with petrolium products and air condition systems. For marine applications, which require an exposed rubber o-ring, over a tight fit and installation of water pump impellers, I use "KY" jelly lubicant, as it is water solubel. <br /><br />...Bob in Calif...

 

[20/20]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Originally posted by qaztwo:<br /> Call me old fasion, but I use vasaline.

Same here, used vasoline over 15yrs back on a pool pump gasket and it still looks the same as it did the day it was bought.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

What about PB Blaster? It says on the can that it "restores life to o-rings & rubber seals". Don't have any personal experience with it, though.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Soap is the recommended lube for cylinder sleeve O rings.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br /> Soap is the recommended lube for cylinder sleeve O rings.

absolutely! If anyone is pressing in sleeves in a diesel that's good to know.<br /><br />That's the exception to the rule of thumb - lube the o-ring with the fluid it is designed to seal.

 

[ae708]

Re: Lubricating rubber O-rings

Lubriplate or a silicone lube... vaseline will destroy rubber.